New report analyzes Maine lobster license system

Report released on Wednesday

A new report looking at Maine's lobster licensing system is making recommendations to address shortcomings in the current system, including having a tiered licensing structure.

The 82-page report released Wednesday by the Department of Marine Resources provides a top-to-bottom analysis of the state's lobster licensing system. State officials will discuss the findings with people in the lobster industry before presenting it to the Legislature's Marine Resources Committee in January.

The report examines both the strengths and weaknesses of the current system, which went into place in 1997.

One recommendation calls for a tiered system with four levels of commercial licenses. The report further recommends changing the way lobster trap tags are calculated to reduce the waiting periods for people trying to become lobster fishermen.